Varney the Vampire eBook

“Yes, yes. God knows, if it purchase an
immunity from these visits, we may well be overjoyed.
Remember that we have ample reason to believe him
more than human. Why should you allow yourselves
to risk a personal encounter with such a man, who
might be glad to kill you that he might have an opportunity
of replenishing his own hideous existence from your
best heart’s blood?”

The young men looked aghast.

“Besides,” added Flora, “you cannot
tell what dreadful powers of mischief he may have,
against which human courage might be of no avail.”

“Only let me come across him, that’s all,”
said Admiral Bell, “and I’ll soon find
out what he is. I suppose he’s some long
slab of a lubber after all, ain’t he, with no
strength.”

“His strength is immense,” said Marchdale.
“I tried to seize him, and I fell beneath his
arm as if I had been struck by the hammer of a Cyclops.”

“A what?” cried the admiral.

“A Cyclops.”

“D—­n me, I served aboard the Cyclops
eleven years, and never saw a very big hammer aboard
of her.”

“What on earth is to be done?” said Henry.”

“Oh,” chimed in the admiral, “there’s
always a bother about what’s to be done on earth.
Now, at sea, I could soon tell you what was to be done.”

“We must hold a solemn consultation over this
matter,” said Henry. “You are safe
now, Flora.”

“Oh, be ruled by me. Give up the Hall.”

“You tremble.”

“I do tremble, brother, for what may yet ensue.
I implore you to give up the Hall. It is but
a terror to us now—­give it up. Have
no more to do with it. Let us make terms with
Sir Francis Varney. Remember, we dare not kill
him.”

“He ought to be smothered,” said the admiral.

“It is true,” remarked Henry, “we
dare not, even holding all the terrible suspicions
we do, take his life.”

“By foul means certainly not,” said Charles,
“were he ten times a vampyre. I cannot,
however, believe that he is so invulnerable as he is
represented.”

“No one represents him here,” said Marchdale.
“I speak, sir, because I saw you glance at me.
I only know that, having made two unsuccessful attempts
to seize him, he eluded me, once by leaving in my grasp
a piece of his coat, and the next time he struck me
down, and I feel yet the effects of the terrific blow.”

“You hear?” said Flora.

“Yes, I hear,” said Charles.

“For some reason,” added Marchdale, in
a tone of emotion, “what I say seems to fall
always badly upon Mr. Holland’s ear. I know
not why; but if it will give him any satisfaction,
I will leave Bannerworth Hall to-night.”

“No, no, no,” said Henry; “for the
love of Heaven, do not let us quarrel.”

“Hear, hear,” cried the admiral.
“We can never fight the enemy well if the ship’s
crew are on bad terms. Come now, you Charles,
this appears to be an honest, gentlemanly fellow—­give
him your hand.”